Saturday, December 15, 2012
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Friday, October 5, 2012
My First Linky Party! Currently October!
My first linky party! I came across this linky party at Oh' Boy 4th Grade... So here is what is currently going on in my world in October.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE Walking Dead. My fiance and I are trying to save money for our wedding, so we have done away with cable. We temporarily have Netflix and Hulu. You better believe I was excited to see Walking Dead had new releases! Anywho, I AM NOT a fan of scary movies, but there's just something about this show that has me hooked!
I am really loving the fact that tomorrow is Friday!Friday means jeans and time to catch up with my friends.
All I can think about are the little things that are left to plan and fix up for my wedding. The big day is set for December 1st! Yes that is less that 2 months away. As I am actually typing this, all I can think of are these tiny boxes I need to finish. Ugh!
Inside there are mini pots, seeds for spring blooming, and a thank you card. It was a cute idea at first! Now I feel like I might be kicking myself as I keep procrastinating!
I have been dying to get my hands on the new iphone! Again... saving money stinks and I am waiting patiently until I can afford to renew my contract and buy this nice gadget! By the way... I am obsessed with technology. I wish apple would magically grant me my wish of donating me a nice little laptop to poor little teacher. Hee hee :)
R&R Oh man how I need some rest and relaxation. I feel like I have been going and going since the school year started. I'm sure it doesn't help that all the other surrounding counties just a week off.
Last, but not least...
Oh how I love thee! I have a blast reading this to my class. The witch is sooo much fun to act out. Honestly, I enjoy making my voice that old squeaky witch sound. I know... geeky!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE Walking Dead. My fiance and I are trying to save money for our wedding, so we have done away with cable. We temporarily have Netflix and Hulu. You better believe I was excited to see Walking Dead had new releases! Anywho, I AM NOT a fan of scary movies, but there's just something about this show that has me hooked!
I am really loving the fact that tomorrow is Friday!Friday means jeans and time to catch up with my friends.
All I can think about are the little things that are left to plan and fix up for my wedding. The big day is set for December 1st! Yes that is less that 2 months away. As I am actually typing this, all I can think of are these tiny boxes I need to finish. Ugh!
Inside there are mini pots, seeds for spring blooming, and a thank you card. It was a cute idea at first! Now I feel like I might be kicking myself as I keep procrastinating!
I have been dying to get my hands on the new iphone! Again... saving money stinks and I am waiting patiently until I can afford to renew my contract and buy this nice gadget! By the way... I am obsessed with technology. I wish apple would magically grant me my wish of donating me a nice little laptop to poor little teacher. Hee hee :)
R&R Oh man how I need some rest and relaxation. I feel like I have been going and going since the school year started. I'm sure it doesn't help that all the other surrounding counties just a week off.
Last, but not least...
Oh how I love thee! I have a blast reading this to my class. The witch is sooo much fun to act out. Honestly, I enjoy making my voice that old squeaky witch sound. I know... geeky!
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Help, Help, Helping Verbs!
Apologies for my long hiatus from blogging. I guess it's only fair I post a freebie!
My school is very big on anchor charts and artifacts. Since learning about poster printing, I have done away with paper charts. I rarely use chart paper or markers to create my mini lesson charts. I love that I don't have to take those clunky charts home. I will say, the most tedious part is having to cut and put them together. I suggest starting with the 4 page posters, because they are easier to put together. My favorite is the 9 page poster. They're the size of regular chart paper. If you use these make sure to use the crop lines and have them overlap. The best tip I can give for the big 9 page poster is to tape it together on both the front and the back (that way it won't crinkle in the laminator). However, the nice clean laminated final product is well worth it. Hop on the poster making train! I promise you won't regret it! Oh... and for those of you who have figured out this new blogger ..... Can someone please tell me how to place spaces between my lines?
I have uploaded one of my anchor charts for helping verbs.
Enjoy!
Click here to grab this freebie from my TpT store!
Happy Blogging!
My school is very big on anchor charts and artifacts. Since learning about poster printing, I have done away with paper charts. I rarely use chart paper or markers to create my mini lesson charts. I love that I don't have to take those clunky charts home. I will say, the most tedious part is having to cut and put them together. I suggest starting with the 4 page posters, because they are easier to put together. My favorite is the 9 page poster. They're the size of regular chart paper. If you use these make sure to use the crop lines and have them overlap. The best tip I can give for the big 9 page poster is to tape it together on both the front and the back (that way it won't crinkle in the laminator). However, the nice clean laminated final product is well worth it. Hop on the poster making train! I promise you won't regret it! Oh... and for those of you who have figured out this new blogger ..... Can someone please tell me how to place spaces between my lines?
I have uploaded one of my anchor charts for helping verbs.
Enjoy!
Click here to grab this freebie from my TpT store!
Happy Blogging!
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Launching Literacy: Literature Circles
Wahoo! I finish another literacy pack! I have currently been working on getting all of my literacy circle activities together into one huge pack. This is one of my favorite things about teaching fourth grade. I love it because this activity helps my students become independent learners. They're exstatic to learn the roles they are responsible for completing. I enoy watching their groups develop as they take ownership of their discussions and in turn, grow as readers.
CLICK HERE TO GRAB MY PACK!
It is a generic pack that can easily be worked into many books. It contains everything you need to complete any literature circle unit. Included in this pack:
* Literacy Circle Contract
* Vocabulary Predictions (predictions using vocabulary)
* Mad Word Finder (find unique, unfamiliar words define and use in context)
* Crafty Artist (Draws a part of chapter & provides caption)
* Cool Connector (Text Connections)
* Dialogue Director (Group Facilitator, Implicit Questions)
* Passage Actor (Fluency)
* Bookmark Job reminders (helps students keep track of current jobs)
* Super Narrator (Summarizing/retelling)
Read on & Happy Blogging!
CLICK HERE TO GRAB MY PACK!
It is a generic pack that can easily be worked into many books. It contains everything you need to complete any literature circle unit. Included in this pack:
* Literacy Circle Contract
* Vocabulary Predictions (predictions using vocabulary)
* Mad Word Finder (find unique, unfamiliar words define and use in context)
* Crafty Artist (Draws a part of chapter & provides caption)
* Cool Connector (Text Connections)
* Dialogue Director (Group Facilitator, Implicit Questions)
* Passage Actor (Fluency)
* Bookmark Job reminders (helps students keep track of current jobs)
* Super Narrator (Summarizing/retelling)
Read on & Happy Blogging!
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Let the Writing Begin: Engaging Beginnings!
For those of you who don't know, my school is departmentalized from 1st grade to 5th. My math partner is currently working on starting her blog, so as soon as she gets it up and running, I will link it to my blog.
My new freebie was a life saver last year. My students always struggle with engaging beginnings. I used this as an anchor chart. I printed it as poster size and gave each student a copy to place in their interactive notebooks. I referred to the chart numerous times throughout the school year. Each time they began a new piece of writing, I always encouraged them to try a different beginning. Also, I had the kids try various beginnings with the same story.
By the end of the year, my students were able to start their writing without me having to remind them to use an engaging beginning.
Click here to get this freebie from my TpT store.
The anchor chart page includes 4th grade standards.
The second page is the generic anchor chart.
Happy Blogging!
My new freebie was a life saver last year. My students always struggle with engaging beginnings. I used this as an anchor chart. I printed it as poster size and gave each student a copy to place in their interactive notebooks. I referred to the chart numerous times throughout the school year. Each time they began a new piece of writing, I always encouraged them to try a different beginning. Also, I had the kids try various beginnings with the same story.
By the end of the year, my students were able to start their writing without me having to remind them to use an engaging beginning.
Click here to get this freebie from my TpT store.
The anchor chart page includes 4th grade standards.
The second page is the generic anchor chart.
Happy Blogging!
Monday, September 3, 2012
New School Year, Tons of Kids, Already Drowning!
I am three weeks into the school year, and I am already drowning! I honestly think the new class size "normal" is a little on the excessive side. I have 30 students in my inclusion homeroom, and since my team is departmentalized, my other class also has 30 students. When you add that up it equals 60 kids. I can't even keep up with spelling inventories and writing prompts. I know it is still early in the school year, but I am starting to worry about how I am going to keep everything organized, graded, and sane. I had a great two weeks, but got a real good taste of crowd control this past week. Is it even possible to start a workshop within a reasonable amount of time? 
If anyone out there has any, ANY suggestions on how to survive this school year please please comment away!
On a brighter note, I am SUPER DUPER THRILLED about drama club auditions this week! My friend, Abby, over at Third Grade Book Worm and I are heading it all up with a few fabulous staff members and about 60 students.
Oh and for those of you who keep up with my TpT store, I have just finished up a HUGE Types of Sentences pack with leveled game/resources.
Happy Blogging!
P.S.
I give mad props to those of you who are able to keep up with your blogs throughout the school year!
If anyone out there has any, ANY suggestions on how to survive this school year please please comment away!
On a brighter note, I am SUPER DUPER THRILLED about drama club auditions this week! My friend, Abby, over at Third Grade Book Worm and I are heading it all up with a few fabulous staff members and about 60 students.
Oh and for those of you who keep up with my TpT store, I have just finished up a HUGE Types of Sentences pack with leveled game/resources.
Happy Blogging!
P.S.
I give mad props to those of you who are able to keep up with your blogs throughout the school year!
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